Search results for ""Author Daniel Gray""

John R Hume is Scotland’s foremost expert on industrial heritage. John’s greatest passion was – and is – industry. Over the course of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, he took over 25,000 photographs of late-industrial and post-industrial Scotland. His collection is a remarkable portrait of a way of life that has now all but vanished. His drive to act as a witness to Scotland’s industrial empire, and its steady disintegration, took him to every corner of the country. John’s photography produces an exhaustive and objective record. Yet it also reveals remarkable and poignant glimpses of domestic life – children playing in factory ruins, high-rises emerging on the city skylines, working men and women dwarfed by the incredible scale of an already crumbling industrial infrastructure. In A Life of Industry, author Daniel Gray tells John’s story, and the story of what has been lost – and preserved.

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Overpaid players. Sunday lunchtime kick-offs. Absurd ticket prices. Non-black boots. Football’s menu of ills is long. Where has the joy gone? Why do we bother? Saturday, 3pm offers a glorious antidote. It is here to remind you that football can still sing to your heart. Warm, heartfelt and witty, here are fifty short essays of prose poetry dedicated to what is good in the game. These are not wallowing nostalgia; they are things that remain sweet and right: seeing a ground from the train, brackets on vidiprinters, ball hitting bar, Jimmy Armfield’s voice, listening to the results in a traffic jam, football towns and autograph-hunters. This is fan culture at its finest, words to transport you somewhere else and identify with, words to hide away in a pub and luxuriate in. Saturday, 3pm is a book of love letters to football and a clarion call, helping us find the romance in the game all over again.

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FEATURED IN THE SCOTSMAN'S SPORT BOOKS OF 2020 A collection of lyrical sweet-nothings whispered to late goals, local radio commentators, referees falling over and 47 other reminders of why we love football. Despite its flaws and excesses, modern football is still sprinkled with simple yet beguiling delights. In his previous book Saturday, 3pm, Daniel Gray captured many of them. Now he is back with a further 50 short essays of prose poetry dedicated to the game’s charming, technicolour minutiae. From club lottos to undeserved wins, and from pitch-invading animals to the roar after a minute’s silence, Extra Time is another romantic celebration of football fandom and its shared joys, habits, eccentricities and peculiarities. It is a salute to keepers going forward for corners, match balls landing on stand roofs and goals scored in quick succession. These chapters offer a gleeful antidote to disillusionment with modern football, VAR and all. They are reminders of why we care and justifications for our devotion. Each warmly evokes this sport’s blessed capacity to offer escape and diversion. Let us share the delight once more.

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LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 - FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘Powerful and poignant’ Henry Winter ‘Empathetic and poignant … the game’s answer to A Journal of the Plague Year’ Harry Pearson ‘The Durham City midfielder wore the resigned look of a man trying to find a jar of harissa in Farmfoods. Up front for Jarrow, a centre-forward darted around frenetically, as if chasing a kite during a hurricane...’ When football disappeared in March 2020, writer and broadcaster Daniel Gray used its absence to reflect on everything the game meant to him. That bred a pledge: whenever and wherever fans were allowed to return, he would be there. The Silence of the Stands is the result of that pledge: a joyous travelogue documenting a precarious season, in which behind-closed-doors matches and travel restrictions combined to make trips to Kendal and Workington seem impossibly exotic. Offering a poignant peek at a surreal age and a slab of social history from the two-metre-distanced tea bar queue, this is the moving, heartfelt and surprisingly uplifting story of a unique season that no one wishes to repeat.

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The story of Britain’s fish and chips obsession ‘A lyrical, amiable and educational celebration of what may be our greatest achievement: the chippy.’ Stuart Maconie Step inside and unwrap this deliciously entertaining look at Britain’s national dish. There is a corner of every town and city in Britain where the air is tangy with vinegar and the scent of frying. Following the irresistible lure, Daniel Gray ponders the magic of chippies and the delights they have sprinkled among us for the last 150 years as he investigates the social – and sociable – history of fish and chips. Travelling to chippies from Dundee to Devon via South Shields, Oldham, Bradford, Bethnal Green, the Rhondda Valley and more – Daniel Gray explores our fish-and-chip nation to show how chippies have helped emancipate women, promote equality for immigrants and shape local and national identity. Whether you were raised eating scraps of Wolverhampton’s orange chips, London’s ‘wallies’ or Hull’s chip spice – even if you think you know whether tea, Vimto or dandelion and burdock is the best accompaniment – this mouth-watering book is as much about who we are as what we eat.

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On an ordinary day, in an even more ordinary town, it was Albert’s birthday. When Grandma Z roars into town on her motorcycle, Albert is swept up in a very extraordinary adventure. Life may never be the same again! This glorious debut from Daniel Gray-Barnett is filled with wonder, imagination, and a wild, magical spirit that will thrill young and old.

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On an ordinary day, in an even more ordinary town, it was Albert’s birthday. When Grandma Z roars into town on her motorcycle, Albert is swept up in a very extraordinary adventure. Life may never be the same again! This glorious debut from Daniel Gray-Barnett is filled with wonder, imagination, and a wild, magical spirit that will thrill young and old.

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A joy-filled cheer of appreciation for loud, trouble-making, outrageous kids. Katerina Cruickshanks is a wild child, a trickster, and a ringleader. But when they wreak some serious chaos, their friends decide their shenanigans have gone too far and say, ‘No more!’ Brimming with humour and warmth, Katerina shows us that there’s no such thing as being too much; it’s just a matter of finding the friends who will love you as you are.

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The postman and the primary teacher, the midwife and the musician. Workers in shops, workers at sea. Solidarity with the Columbian farmer and the Palestinian fireman… Modern trade unionists in Scotland perform roles in every imaginable location and are drawn from all backgrounds. They campaign to win on issues facing the colleague next to them or a comrade thousands of miles away. ’Mon the Workers tells their stories in their own words. It is a celebration of 125 years of the STUC, and a clarion call for the next generation to agitate, organise and win. This book demonstrates past achievements, explores the ideas trade unionists have fought for and rouses the movement towards future victories. 75 trade union members, reps and officials share experiences of union life from the anti-apartheid movement to Wick Wants Work. Alan McCredie’s charismatic portraits of 50 other activists from the trade union movement provide a complementary visual narrative. This very human book pulses with the energy of Scotland’s trade union movement, which has achieved so much and still has more to do.

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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARDS! We lead increasingly time-poor lifestyles, bombarded 24/7 by petrifying news bulletins, internet trolls and endless noises. Where has the joy and relaxation gone from our daily lives? Scribbles in the Margins offers a glorious antidote to that relentless modern-day information churn. It is here to remind you that books and bookshops can still sing to your heart. Warm, heartfelt and witty, here are fifty short essays of prose poetry dedicated to the simple joy to be found in reading and the rituals around it. These are not wallowing nostalgia; they are things that remain pleasurable and right, that warm our hearts and connect us to books, to reading and to other readers: smells of books, old or new; losing an afternoon organising bookshelves; libraries; watching a child learn to read; reading in bed; impromptu bookmarks; visiting someone’s home and inspecting the bookshelves; stains and other reminders of where and when you read a book. An attempt to fondly weigh up what makes a book so much more than paper and ink – and reading so much more than a hobby, a way of passing time or a learning process – these declarations of love demonstrate what books and reading mean to us as individuals, and the cherished part they play in our lives, from the vivid greens and purples of childhood books to the dusty comfort novels we turn to in times of adult flux. Scribbles in the Margins is a love-letter to books and bookshops, rejoicing in the many universal and sometimes odd little ways that reading and the rituals around reading make us happy.

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Shortlisted for the History Book of the Year category of the 2009 Saltire Literary Awards The Spanish Civil War was a call to arms for 2,300 British volunteers, of which over 500 were from Scotland. The first book of its kind, Homage to Caledonia examines Scotland's role in the conflict, detailing exactly why Scottish involvement was so profound. The book moves chronologically through events and places, firstly surveying the landscape in contemporary Scotland before describing volunteers' journeys to Spain, and then tracing their every involvement from arrival to homecoming (or not). There is also an account of the non-combative role, from fundraising for Spain and medical aid, to political manoeuvrings within the volatile Scottish left. Using a wealth of previously-unpublished letters sent back from the front as well as other archival items, Daniel Gray is able to tell little known stories of courage in conflict, and to call into question accepted versions of events such as the 'murder' of Bob Smillie, or the heroism of 'The Scots Scarlet Pimpernel'. Homage to Caledonia offers a very human take on events in Spain: for every tale of abject distress in a time of war, there is a tale of a Scottish volunteer urinating in his general's boots, knocking back a dram with Errol Flynn or appalling Spanish comrades with his pipe playing. For the first time, read the fascinating story of Caledonia's role in this seminal conflict.

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Fatigued by bloated big-game football and bored of samey big cities, Daniel Gray went in search of small town Scotland and its teams. At the time when the Scottish club game is drifting towards its lowest ebb once more, Stramash singularly fails to wring its hands and address the state of the game, preferring instead to focus on Bobby Mann's waistline. Part travelogue, part history and part mistakenly spilling ketchup on the face of a small child, Stramash takes an uplifting look at the country's nether regions. Using the excuse of a match to visit places from Dumfries to Dingwall, Gray surveys Scotland's towns and teams in their present state. Stramash accomplishes the feats of visiting Dumfries without mentioning Robert Burns, being positive about Cumbernauld and linking Elgin City to Lenin. It is a fond look at Scotland as you've never seen it before.

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A book about becoming independent for the first time. This stylish book with a relatable story is a joy for children and adults alike. The beautiful illustrations use muted tones with pops of neon orange, mixing gentle watercolour and bold strokes' -- Book Trust 'A charming and well-crafted picture book story.' -- School Reading List A young kangaroo called Alexander lives in his mum, Nancy’s pocket. Alexander loves his mum, but there’s one thing she does that really drives him nuts. She is always putting stuff in her pocket. Alexander tries to keep things neat, but the more he tidies, the more stuff she shoves in there. When he complains, his sister calls him a baby – it’s time to leave the pouch anyway. But Alexander loves it in there – it’s warm and cosy and smells of mum.Then one day, it gets really bad. Twelve bobby pins, a tube of toothpaste, a bottle of water, a packet of chewing gum, two bus tickets, some keys, a toy car and a cookbook all find their way into Nancy’s pouch. And that’s just for starters. Finally Alexander’s had enough. ‘I can’t take it any more!’ he shouts. ‘I’m moving out!’ So Alexander moves into the room next to his sister’s. They make it all cosy, with a furry blanket and shelves for all his stuff. So it’s just like his mum’s pouch. Almost. The penultimate spread is Alexander sleeping with all his stuff strewn around him. The final spread is Nancy clearing out her pocket with a wink. It was time for Alexander to go.This is a heartwarming tale about a connection between a son and mother and a journey towards independence, beautifully brought to life.

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From Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho come 25 more bold and brave poems for children. These waltzing verses for reading aloud were written to comfort and inspire! With his third read-aloud poetry book, Coelho focuses on building kids’ courage! It follows Poems Aloud and Smile Out Loud, books that have inspired thousands of little readers to harness the power of their own voice. This new collection contains mantras to be true to yourself, to help you feel brave, project happiness, conjure a smile, make you laugh and cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras and some are just poems that instil confidence and help children realize the power of their voices. Reading these poems aloud will teach children the power of poetry, encouraging them to explore the magic of language and foster a love of verse. These rhymes perfectly complement school literature curriculums. Introduce your budding wordsmith to new verse and spark their imaginations with poems about boundaries, handling emotions and treasuring friendships. This sparky anthology is peppered with witty and charming illustrations by Daniel Gray-Barnett to bring these powerful words to life in a way that’s appealing to children. A sweet way to empower your little one and have them harness their inner power. From a few lines to a couple of pages, there’s a mix of long and short poems, making this book versatile and suitable for every situation.

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Craft Roach is an exuberant story about an artsy little bug who lives life a little differently. Written by Rachel Burke (@imakestagram) and with art from best-selling illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett, Craft Roach is a fun, rhyming picture book about standing out, fitting in and having the courage to be your most joyful self. Craft Roach makes the other bugs feel very tense and stressed. Standing out? Being seen? They do not think it best. But Craft Roach sees things differently, has more than just an inkling – that crawlies wouldn’t be so feared, if all of them were twinkling... Craft Roach is a story that will change your mind about cockroaches, and will delight and encourage young readers to be bold and never dim their light. For ages 3 and up.

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A Scotsman and an Englishman, a camera and a notebook. The pictures tell a thousand stories, the words tell the time. This is Scotland, captured at its most crucial point for 300 years. United by a love of Scotland, warts and all. Especially its warts, in fact. Gray and McCredie set out on a journey high and low, mainland and island, rust and heather, to document a country and its people. Here is a country caught and sketched before it disappears, one of flaking pub signs and tenant crofters, Italian cafes and proper fitba’ grounds. Stunning and moving images are coupled with lyrical and nostalgic prose to make a work which will become a reference point, a caledonian comfort, an antidote to shortbread-tin Scotland.

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From Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho come 25 more bold and brave poems for children. These waltzing verses for reading aloud were written to comfort and inspire! With his third read-aloud poetry book, Coelho focuses on building kids’ courage! It follows Poems Aloud and Smile Out Loud, books that have inspired thousands of little readers to harness the power of their own voice. This new collection contains mantras to be true to yourself, to help you feel brave, project happiness, conjure a smile, make you laugh and cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras and some are just poems that instil confidence and help children realize the power of their voices. Reading these poems aloud will teach children the power of poetry, encouraging them to explore the magic of language and foster a love of verse. These rhymes perfectly complement school literature curriculums. Introduce your budding wordsmith to new verse and spark their imaginations with poems about boundaries, handling emotions and treasuring friendships. This sparky anthology is peppered with witty and charming illustrations by Daniel Gray-Barnett to bring these powerful words to life in a way that’s appealing to children. A sweet way to empower your little one and have them harness their inner power. From a few lines to a couple of pages, there’s a mix of long and short poems, making this book versatile and suitable for every situation.

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Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho presents another brilliant compendium of poetry to read out loud and make you smile!From the fantastic duo behind Poems Aloud comes twenty five original poems designed to be read aloud to project confidence, conjure happiness, make you laugh or cheer others up. Some are odes, some can be said as personal mantras or just poems full of words that you can't help but smile when you hear them. This is a book for any child who wants to build confidence reading aloud, or wants a way to channel their speech and drama confidence. It is a book to foster a love of words and the power that comes with the spoken word. It will show children how speaking a poem aloud has a certain magic, almost like reading a spell. Poems can be read aloud to an audience, muttered quietly to oneself or whispered in the ear of someone who needs to hear some cheerful words.

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In this fantastic collection, Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho shows us that poems are made to read OUT LOUD! In this wittily illustrated anthology of poems, designed to be read aloud, twenty poems arm children with techniques for lifting poetry off the page and performing with confidence. Perfect for confident children and shy readers alike, this book teaches all sorts of clever ways to performing poetry. Children will learn 20 techniques for reading aloud by trying out 20 funny and thoughtful original poems by the much-loved and award-winning performance poet, Joseph Coelho. There are tongue twisters, poems to project, poems to whisper, poems to make you laugh. There are poems to perform to a whole class and others to whisper in somebody's ear. Richly textured, warm and stylish illustration by Daniel Gray-Barnett bring each page to life."Poetry for children is dead. Really? Not when there are young poets like Joseph Coelho" —Books for Keeps

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An illustrated guide to emotions that helps children identify and articulate how they are really feeling. What Are You Feeling? is the first in a series of books that aims to develop emotional literacy for children aged 5-8 years. It is a book about finding interesting words for interesting feelings. It explores what lots of feeling words really mean and which words best describe the many feelings a child may have. The book discusses 20 different feelings from happy to mischievous. The child is encouraged to identify these feelings in ways that are healthy and easy to understand. Award-winning illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett brings each feeling to life in his vivid, colourful and amusing illustrations.

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Come Over To My House is a delightful picture book that explores the home lives of children and parents who are Deaf or disabled.Co-written by disability advocate Eliza Hull and bestselling author Sally Rippin, the inclusive rhyming text authentically explores the characters' various disabilities. A cast of friendly characters invite friends over for a play – there’s fun to be had, food to eat and families to meet! Come over to my house. Come over and play!I’ll show you around, you can stay the whole day.We’ll swing on the swing-set and splash in the pool.Then I’ll race you inside where my bedroom is cool. Featuring a gorgeous die-cut cover, bright illustrations and a diverse cast, this is a must-read for all families.

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